The Promise of Home

by Darcie Chan

  “I hope so, too.”

  “They’ve got lots of people searching, lots of private security people from the company he’s with, and some military. They’ll find him.”

  “They will, I’m sure they will,” Emily said quickly.

  They stood in silence for a moment. Karen glanced at the ropes on the wall and then over at Emily. “I came in here for…lightbulbs. I’m all out of sixty-watt bulbs, or whatever fluorescent kind gives the same amount of light.”

  “Sure, we have them,” Emily said, and she turned to lead Karen to a different area of the store. “How many do you need?”

  Karen selected a box of bulbs and paid for them at the register. She gamely kept up small talk with Emily, but inside, she longed to rush home, climb into bed, and pull the covers over her head. Sleep would be a welcome, if temporary, respite. Perhaps the thick bedding would persuade her body and mind to relax enough to let it come.

  —

  Carrying a small brown bag and a steaming cup of coffee, Claudia left Ruth’s bakery-café and headed up the street toward the police station. Even though the walk was short, it was wonderful to be out in the crisp autumn air with the bright sunshine warming her face. The sunny day and the brilliant fall foliage made everything in Mill River vibrant and happy. The fact that she was planning her wedding and on her way to surprise Kyle with lunch bolstered her upbeat mood, too.

  She reached the door of the police station just as Kyle was coming out. “Hi,” she said. “I brought you lunch.” She held up the bag and the coffee cup.

  “You’re just full of surprises,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “What’s in the bag?”

  “Chicken salad and apple pie from Ruth’s. Do you want to go to the break room?”

  “Well, Ron just got here, so I was going to take a quick drive around. You want to come along?”

  “Yeah.” She smiled suggestively.

  “Don’t get any bright ideas, my dear. I’m on duty—”

  “—which means you can’t mess around, yeah, I know.” She followed him to the department’s Jeep Grand Cherokee and climbed into the passenger seat. “You really ought to loosen up a little.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes and started the engine. “So, you came from the bakery?”

  “Yeah. Rowen was there, all set up at one of the tables with her homework.”

  “And probably something sweet, I imagine.”

  “Yes, she was working on a cupcake along with her book report.”

  Kyle chuckled. “That’ll be another advantage of moving into your place. Rowen won’t have a ready supply of baked goods downstairs.”

  “I don’t know how you guys have managed to live in that apartment for as long as you have. I mean, it’s a nice place, but I’d go nuts with the smell of pies and pastries constantly coming up through the floor.”

  They drove down Main Street, through the main business district and a residential area composed of small, older houses and a few trailer homes. There was a stand set up in front of one of the mobile homes. A stout woman with curly gray hair sat in a chair behind it.

  “Daisy’s still at it, I see,” Kyle said as he slowed the Jeep and rolled the window down to speak to her. “How are you, Miss Daisy?”

  “Hello, Officer! I’m just fine, thank you. Trying to sell what’s left of my special Halloween potion.” Daisy motioned to a line of large mason jars on the table, each of which was filled with bright orange liquid. “It’s scary good, you know. There’s lots of orange juice in it, and each jar comes with a secret spell to keep the ghosts and goblins away. Would you like to try it?”

  Claudia watched as Kyle took a deep breath and tried to give her an earnest response.

  “It sounds nice, Miss Daisy, but I’ve got to finish my patrol and get back to the station. It’s a nice afternoon to be out, though. You enjoy the sunshine!”

  “I will, Officer,” Daisy called as Kyle rolled up the window.

  “I’d like to know how she comes up with those concoctions,” Claudia said with a giggle once they were on their way. “And I wonder what’s in her Halloween potion besides orange juice?”

  “I don’t think I want to know,” Kyle said. He shook his head. “Daisy is something else.”

  They were approaching the old covered bridge on the edge of town. Once they were past it, Kyle turned onto a small highway. “I figured I’d drive out a ways, then head back through the country and stop at the new park, if you’d like,” he said, and Claudia nodded her agreement. “So, what else do you have planned for today?”

  “I’ve got a fitting for my wedding gown at two, with a woman named Pauline Albury. Do you know her?”

  “I’ve heard the name, but I haven’t met her,” Kyle said.

  “My landlady, Ms. DiSanti, recommended her. She said Pauline does all the alterations on her business clothes, and you’ve seen how nice Ms. DiSanti always dresses.”

  “I can give you a ride over to her place once we get back into town.”

  “But then you’d see the gown!”

  “Lay it in the back of the Jeep. I won’t peek, promise.”

  “Nope, I’m not buying that. You’ll just have to wait.”

  Kyle sighed. They came around a bend, and a lovely log cabin came into view.

  “I really like Doc Richardson’s place,” Kyle said, motioning to the house, set back off the highway. “I like living in town, too, but you get more privacy out here.”

  “Do you want to look for a place in the country?” Claudia asked. “I mean, I know we’re all going to live in my house for a while, but eventually?”

  Kyle shrugged. “I dunno. I suppose when we’re ready to buy something, we can check out everything that’s available.”

  “Cool. Until then, we can snuggle up in our little house together.”

  Kyle grinned as he reached over and squeezed her hand. After another few miles, they turned onto a small paved road that headed up into the hills. There were small houses and farms along the roads, and several times, they came upon particularly stunning views. The trees were every color—flaming reds and oranges, golds and yellows so bright that they seemed to have an ethereal glow, and the deep dark green of evergreens scattered among the other hues. Kyle slowed the Jeep as they came to a large private pond, where they admired how the brilliant thicket of trees behind it was reflected perfectly on its still surface.

  “Look how beautiful,” Claudia breathed. “It’s like a postcard.”

  “Yeah,” Kyle agreed. “Scenery like this actually makes me look forward to fall patrols.”

  The road grew more narrow and curved again, passing by more houses and breathtaking scenery until it opened up into a straightaway. After a few moments, Kyle turned right onto a smaller road. A new split-rail fence appeared, running for several hundred feet until it formed a corner at an asphalt driveway and a large wooden sign that read HAYES MEMORIAL PARK AND RECREATION AREA. There were a few other cars in the newly paved parking area. Kyle pulled into a space next to a minivan. A small hatchback was parked on the other side of the lot.

  “I haven’t been here since the dedication in September,” Claudia said as she exited the Jeep. “It’s even more gorgeous now that the trees have turned.”

  On one side of the park, picnic tables and metal charcoal grill boxes were placed strategically among a group of bright red sugar maples. There was a large open field beyond the tables where a man was throwing a football with a gangly teenager. On the opposite side, a swing set and two configurations of shiny playground equipment reflected the sunlight. A woman sat on a bench watching two young children climbing up a ladder to a slide. Beyond the playground area were tennis and basketball courts and a baseball field, as well as a fenced-in area where dogs could be exercised off-leash. A wide walking path ringed the entire park.

  “Let’s go sit down,” Kyle said. He had the brown bag and coffee cup, and together they walked to one of the picnic tables. As Kyle ate, Claudia put her elbows on the table and leaned
back with her eyes closed. Every few minutes, a burst of cool autumn breeze rushed over her face and caused a surge of colored leaves to rain down around them. Soon the weather would turn frigid, and it would be months before the sun’s warmth returned. But this winter would be warm in other ways. She stole a glance at Kyle and smiled.

  “I wonder what this place looked like when Samuel Hayes was alive,” Kyle said. “Father O’Brien said it was a Morgan horse farm back then. There used to be a big barn right where we’re sitting.”

  “And a farmhouse up on that little hill past the ball field, I remember him saying,” Claudia said. She looked in the direction of the hill. An elegant monument of a mare and a young woman now stood on top of it, along with an engraved plaque describing Mary McAllister’s gift of the land for the new park. “It’s great what they’ve done with the property, though. I’ll bet there are towns ten times the size of Mill River that don’t have a park as nice as this.” The sound of voices in the distance caught her attention. She squinted toward the parking lot, where the woman from the playground was shepherding her children into the minivan. A few minutes later, the two people who had been tossing the football climbed into the hatchback and drove away.

  She and Kyle were alone…with the Jeep.

  He had just finished his sandwich and pie and had taken the lid off the coffee. She waited as he drank it, watching impatiently as tiny wisps of steam rose from the cup. Finally, she tucked her hands inside the sleeves of her sweatshirt and crossed her arms.

  “You know, it’s getting pretty chilly with this breeze,” she said. “Do you mind if we go back to the Jeep?”

  “No, I’m about done, and we should get going, anyway. Ron’ll be expecting me back soon.”

  When they reached the vehicle, Claudia opened one of the rear doors and quickly climbed into the backseat. “C’mon,” she said to him in a low voice.

  “What? What are you— Oh no, we can’t, Claudia. Seriously, I could be fired, and—”

  “Shhh, I’ve got goosebumps. Just climb in and cuddle me for a few minutes. We won’t do anything more.”

  “I don’t believe you,” he said, but he got in and closed the door anyway. As soon as Kyle was seated, she swung her leg over him and pulled herself onto his lap. “Claudia, it’s broad daylight. Somebody else could show up any minute—” he started to say, but she took his face in her hands and kissed him.

  “The windows are tinted, and no one else is here. We’ll be quick. Just relax,” she whispered, and didn’t give him a chance to reply. Her hands moved to the buckle on his duty belt, trying to figure out how to undo it while she kept his mouth busy.

  “God, Claudia,” Kyle gasped. He grabbed her wrists. For a moment, he restrained her. She could tell by his breathing, though, that he was starting to feel the moment.

  “Please, baby, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” she murmured. After she kissed him again, a tortured expression passed over Kyle’s face. She smiled triumphantly when he cursed under his breath, released her arms, and dealt with the buckle himself.

  Afterward, they put on what clothes they had removed and lounged for a few minutes on the soft leather seat. Claudia reached up and gently touched Kyle’s face. “Thank you. That’s one off my bucket list.”

  “Seriously? Having sex in a car?”

  “Not just any car. This one.”

  He rolled his eyes and leaned his head back on the seat. “Well, I suppose there are worse things.”

  Claudia smiled. “Waaaaay worse,” she agreed as she rested her head against his shoulder.

  Suddenly, the radio in Kyle’s duty belt crackled, and Ron’s voice came through the speaker. “HQ to Hansen, come in, over.”

  They both started, and Kyle grabbed the radio from its holster. He put a finger to his lips and gave Claudia a stern look before he spoke. “Hey, Ron, what’s up?”

  “Hey, Kyle. We just got a call from the Village Market. One of their customers locked her keys in the car with the engine running. The car’s an older-model Chevy. Do you think you could jimmy the door for her?”

  “I can try,” Kyle said. “I’m heading back into town now, so I’ll stop over there before I come back to the station.”

  “Ten-four. I’ll let them know. Ron out.”

  “See? It’s fine. No one saw, and nobody will ever know,” Claudia said with a mischievous grin. “And don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy yourself.” She followed Kyle’s lead, though, when he quickly got out of the backseat and climbed into the front.

  Kyle shook his head. “You’re unbelievable,” he said as he started the engine. “Reckless, full of bad judgment, and, and—”

  “—and what?”

  He looked at her, and his expression softened. It seemed he was trying to suppress a grin. He reached out a hand and tucked a strand of her mussed-up hair behind her ear. “Very naughty.”

  Claudia smiled. “And?”

  “Drop-dead gorgeous.”

  Her smile grew wider. “And?”

  “Mine.” Kyle leaned across the seat and gave her a slow, lingering kiss.

  Claudia was happy down to her toes. And she knew she would never again think of Mill River’s new “recreation area” in quite the same way.

  —

  Father O’Brien was in the sacristy at St. John’s, removing his vestments after the morning’s Mass. The celebration had been relatively uneventful, other than the short announcement he had made at the end about Karen Cooper’s missing husband. He had asked everyone in attendance to say a prayer for Nick’s quick and safe return.

  He had spoken with Karen after Mass, once the other church members had offered her their words of comfort and left. She’d insisted that she and Ben were holding up as well as could be expected, but her pasty complexion and baggy, swollen eyes indicated otherwise. What concerned him even more was the expression he saw in her eyes—or, rather, the lack of it. There was no spark there, no trace of hope or anger or resolve, any of which he would expect to see in the eyes of someone in her situation. Her eyes were blank, emotionless. He had seen other people’s eyes look that way, and it had scared him every time.

  Father O’Brien stood at the altar, looking out at the pews to make sure all was in order, when he suddenly realized how tired he was. His head felt as if it were spinning, and his knees were a bit wobbly. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning?

  Of course that’s it, he thought. He’d had his usual coffee and a small glass of juice, but he’d gotten so absorbed in making a few last-minute changes to his homily that he hadn’t had time to eat anything. Carefully, he left the church and walked the short path to the parish house.

  In his kitchen, he grabbed a banana to eat while he grilled a sandwich. The heat from the stove burner felt good as it radiated toward him, and it reminded him of the paperwork for the new heating assistance program that Jim Gasaway had requested he look over. The weather was already getting colder, and winter was a few short months away. He wanted to make sure that the funds Mary McAllister had left for the program could be used as soon as possible.

  When he closed his eyes, he could still envision Mary’s smiling face. His dearest friend had been gone nearly nine months. He missed her terribly, especially in the quiet moments he had to himself. It comforted him to know that he was helping to carry out her wishes to care for the people of Mill River. Throughout her lifetime, she had done so much for her community, and her estate would provide even more help to those in need.

  Still, there were limits to what Mary’s love could do. If she were alive, he undoubtedly would have told her of Karen Cooper’s situation, of his prayers for Nick’s safety and the well-being of Karen and her son. She would have shared his concern. He knew, too, that as much as Mary would have wanted to help, there would have been nothing she could have done to find Nick Cooper and return him to his family.

  Chapter 6

  Saturday, March 31, 1934

  For an instant, Michael was too shock
ed to move. A second scream from his mother launched him into action. He threw open the door and raised his rifle.

  The large man in the kitchen towered over his mother. He stood with his back toward Michael, holding her firmly by the wrists and pushed up against the counter. She was struggling against his hold, kicking and thrashing, but she was no match for the man’s strength.

  “Take your hands off her!” Michael yelled. Never before had he aimed his gun at a person. He pressed his cheek to the side of the rifle, trying to steady the weapon in his trembling hands. The man turned, revealing a dirt-streaked face and an unkempt beard. Michael made eye contact with the intruder and took aim at his forehead. At that moment, two thoughts rose up in his mind.

  The man was standing in close proximity to his mother, which would make firing extremely risky.

  His loaded rifle held only a single shot.

  “Or what, little boy?” In an instant, the man had produced a knife and whirled his mother around in front of him, where he held the blade to her throat. “Careful. You wouldn’t want this knife to slip, now, would you?”

  Michael stayed frozen where he stood. His finger was positioned just in front of the trigger, and his heart was hammering in his ears.

  The intruder squinted at him before stretching his mouth into a taunting smile. “Come on, now, pretty lady. Tell this little boy of yours to put the gun down before you get hurt.”

  “Please, Michael,” his mother gasped. “Do what he says.” Her head was turned, pressed back against the intruder’s chest, and she was looking at him out of the corners of her eyes. Michael could see how forcefully the man held the knife against her neck by the way her skin rose up around the point of the blade. It would take only one jab, one slight flick of the intruder’s wrist…

  “Be a good lad, now, and listen to your mommy,” the man growled.

  Michael’s eyes made brief, intense contact with those of his mother before he focused again on the intruder’s face.